Ode Awure originated as a farmstead founded around the 10th century C.E by some indigenes of Ufe (Ile Ife) led by one Oyebo, however, the first crowned ruler of Usen was prince Afelogiyan a brother to prince Oranmiyan, the founder and progenitor of the current dynasty of Edo kings.They were both progeny to the Olofen in Ife (Uhe) who were both on their way to the present day Benin.
The site of the original farmstead from which Usen sprung is situated in the present Odomukpe quarters of town. Folk oral tradition has it that during one of his hunting expeditions into the surrounding forest, he discovered a stream/river which he named Eri Ode (i.e Hunter's stream). This stream is today believed to possess somemythical properties and is one of the most revered deities of the people belonging to the usen cultural community today.
In the year 1897, Major Roupell, a British officer in Benin wrote; "The country is entirely Yoruba in its customs, Yoruba is everywhere spoken."
RULERS OF USEN
The usen community is ruled by Oba Oluogbe II, the Olu Awure (Elawure) of Usen, the seat of power is the Aghofen or royal palace.
The king is assisted by a council of hereditary (and appointed) chiefs like the Aro, the Olusoyen, the Obateru, the Elemo/Elema, the Odofin, the Eribo, the Ologbosere, Asoron Oba (Eson), the Olulemo, the Arase, the Osuma, the Asamo/Asama, the Asoron-ogwa (Ashorongwa or Oshorun), the Ojomo and their leader the Oliha amongst others.
The current Olu Awure is said to be the 33rd Oba of Ode Awure in memory. Major deities venerated in the town include: Ogun, Ora, Sango, Uja, Uwen, Ifa (Oronmila), Erede (Eri Ode), Osanyin (Orhanyin) amongst others.
The principal seat/shrine/grove of the state deities of Benin, otherwise known as Ebo n'Edo is actually situated in Usen and overseen by the Oligho who is chief priest.
The Osolo (Eholor) is the high priest of Oluwa Ogun and was one of the titles conferred on some of the major personalties that were in the same journey with Oranmiyan and Afelogiyan from ife; The Oliha and Ine, The Odofin (Edohen) who is the second ranking Awo right after the Oluwo with the Ojomo (Ezomo), The Aro (Ero) who is the third ranking awo after the Oluwo and the Odofin with the Elemo (Elama), The Osolo and Olotun (Oloton), were also replicated from the Ife institutions and conferred there at Usen.
As a result, all the original titles of the highest ranking Benin chiefs that continued on the expedition with prince Oranmiyan to Benin are exactly mirrored in Usen.
Others included; The Asoron (Eson) and The Asamo (Esama). Irado (Erando), the founder of Utese,[9] and the Arujale Ojima of Okeluse amongst others were personages who were known to have later subsequently migrated away from Ode Awure (Usen).
The Jegun reigning dynasty of kings in Ode Idepe (Okitipupa) among the Ikale Yoruba group also migrated from Usen, as explicitly expoused in the praise panegyrics of the Okitipupa people which reads:
Oma Jegun a beyan meji, Onoja ke he'e waro - We are the descendants of Jegun
Oma Onoja ti a ka gbe uwen le - The children of the town folks that constructed a stand for uwen
Je eruku maa ku uwen ara - So that dust would not gather on the uwen deity
Oluwen r'uwen - The priest of Uwen must carry uwen
Ogbori r'uwen egungun - The uninitiated (ogbori) who carries it would join the eegun
Ji irere ti ule uba bi ene ni Ode Usoyen - The house of the father that birthed us is at Ode Usen
Oma Jegunyomi Abejoye - The children of Jegunyomi Abejoye
Oge fifun ye se Oba Usen - The with robed Oba of Usen.
Usen can thus be aptly described as a secondary point of migration for many of the various surrounding towns, including; Okitipupa, Utese, Okeluse etc.
The Yeye Erede is the high priestess of the Eri Ode stream.
Oba Afelogiyan was the first ruler while Oba Alakaye was the tenth.
The current ruler, Oba Oluogbe II was preceded by Oba Ufeluyi II and before him by Oba Agbaramuda II (Agbaramuda Oron). The heir Apparent crown princes in the Usen kingdom possess and are known by the title: Oronmija.
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